After a close reading of the final rule in the Federal Register (Vol. 76, No. 194/Thursday, October 6, 2011/Rules and Regulations) in regard to the Ozark Hellbender Salamander, definitive causes of the decline in population of this species is due to four major factors:
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations for the Ozark Hellbender salamander will become effective November 7, 2011. Areas are not currently being declared as endangered habitats, but the stated reason for doing so is that people go into the habitat areas and try to kill out the species.